(See also: Adult Upper Limb Arteries)
Discussion: Upper Limb Development
- subclavian artery projects into the early upper limb bud & forms subclavian-axillary-brachial trunk;
- its distal portion becomes interosseous artery that initially supplies plexus of arteries in the primitive hand;
- branch of trunk artery, median artery, temporarily replaces interosseous artery in supplying the hand;
- subsequently, ulnar and then radial arteries are formed & supplies forearm and of superficial & deep palmar arches of hand;
- deep branch of brachial artery & arteries about shoulder & elbow arise relatively late as branches of primary axial vessel;
Discussion: Lower Limb Development
- umbilical artery it gives off small branch, ischiadic artery, that temporarily serves supplies the growing limb;
- external iliac artery, arising from umbilical artery slightly proximal to ischiadic, soon provides most of the blood supply to the limb and goes on to successively, femoral, popliteal, & posterior tibial artery;
- anastomosis is formed as popliteal artery passes near ischiadic, artery and the lower part of ischiadic becomes peroneal artery;
- anterior tibial artery is subsequently formed;
- persisting distal portions of ischiadic artery become peroneal & inferior genicular arteries;
- proximal portion persists as branch of inferior gluteal artery, which lies anastomoses w/ lateral & MFCA & first perforating branch of deep femoral artery;
- anastomosis sometimes called cruciate or crucial anastomosis;
- early vascular plexus of foot is supplied by ischiadic artery
- as this connection regresses, plexus is supplied by posterior tibial;
- later, new anterior tibial artery reaches foot & comes to supply dorsal arcuate artery & its branches, & posterior tibial artery supplies the plantar arteries.